Mention the phrase “environmental protection” and images of protestors chained to old growth trees slated for destruction and activists lying down in front of bulldozers come to mind. While these images are sometimes accurate, today’s advocates for the environment also include moms’ groups worried about clean air for their children, sports enthusiasts worried about pristine lands to hike and legislators concerned about global warming. Environmental protection in the 21st century is about more than just endangered species. It is about protecting our water supplies. It is about reducing reliance on foreign oil. It is about improving our health by understanding environmental hazards and working to eliminate them from our lifestyles. In short, environmental protection is about improving our quality of life by making sure we and the environment are around for a long time.

Environmental Protection FactsThe United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary government agency for ensuring the nation’s environmental health. Founded in 1970 after President Nixon called for an increased governmental focus on environmental issues, the EPA is a result of the American people wanting clean air, water and land. This commitment to the demands of the public is reflected in the agency’s mission statement. In short, the mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment.

Notice how human health and the environment are intrinsically linked. You cannot have health without a healthy environment. Think back to the days when factories haphazardly filled the air with dangerous particulate matter, increasing respiratory ailments such as lung cancer and asthma. Through legislation and financial incentives, the EPA has worked to reduce manufacturing emissions tenfold over the last 30 years, leaving cleaner air and healthier lungs for future generations.

Why We Need the EPAMuch of this work was accomplished through the Clean Air Act of 1970. In fact, the EPA as a whole was largely founded to implement the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Marking a major shift in the focus of the government from protecting the interests of business to the interests of the people and the environment, the Clean Air Act established emission standards for buildings, vehicles and equipment. It also increased the enforcement capabilities of the federal government to make sure local jurisdictions complied with the air pollution standards established by the act.

The Clean Air Act has been amended several times over the years, most notably in 1990. During this most recent revision, the issue of acid rain was fully discussed, and the act now requires acid deposits to be regulated and controlled. The 1990 amendment also identified 189 toxic pollutants, many of them unheard of before then. This raised public awareness of the dangers of such chemicals as ammonia, Freon, chlorine and many household cleaning products.

Clean water is another critical resource for a healthy lifestyle. Environmental protection policies advocated by the EPA include protecting our water supplies from pesticide runoff, the illegal dumping of dangerous chemicals into our lakes and rivers, and ensuring that water districts conduct regular and mandatory water sampling for such natural contaminants as lead, mercury and human waste.

The Clean Water Act, first adopted in 1972, sets the standard for all surface-water contaminants, including funding for sewage treatment plants, grants for water-quality-improvement programs and education programs for public schools to teach children the importance of healthy water.

Subsequent revisions to the Clean Water Act have improved the partnerships between the federal and state governments, reflecting a greater understanding of the local diversity in water quality across the country.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is another piece of important environmental legislation administered by the EPA. Created to protect both plants and animals, and the habitat in which they live, the ESA monitors population levels of more than 1,500 endangered species and 300 threatened species. The law makes it illegal to damage, destroy, commercialize or remove for transport any of the species identified as threatened or endangered. Through the enforcement efforts of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture, the EPA is there to make sure all of the nation’s wildlife is protected from the dangerous actions of careless individuals.

Fun Facts on the EPAWhile it might first seem hard to imagine an agency such as the EPA having fun trivia, read on for a list of interesting facts you might not know about this important federal agency.

* According to the audited financial statements for the agency, the 2007 operating costs for the EPA were $8.7 billion.

* More than 50 percent of the EPA’s budget goes to support grant programs for state environmental-protection programs, meaning half of the agency’s funding sustains local efforts to protect the environment.

* The EPA maintains an entire homepage dedicated to teaching kids about environmental protection. At EPA.gov/kids, there are downloadable coloring books, posters and information sheets especially designed for children.

* Forget the FBI: the EPA was voted one of the top 10 federal workplaces in 2007. If you are looking for a job that makes a difference while making money, consider one of the 17,000 jobs at the EPA.

* Recognizing the relationship between toxic mold and healthy living, the EPA has also created a comprehensive list of “10 Things You Should Know About Mold” and provides critical links to websites dedicated to asthma and allergy relief, as well as the relationship between indoor air quality and respiratory ailments. Information on how to eliminate mold in your home and children’s school can be found on the EPA website.

* The EPA was responsible for establishing curbside recycling programs across the country. Today nearly 9,000 such programs exist, whereas 20 years ago, there was just one. As a result, this country recycles approximately 33 percent of its waste, preventing more than 60 tons of trash a year from ending up in landfills where it can contribute to overcrowding and the production of harmful greenhouse gases such as methane.

* Sixty-seven percent of all major appliances are now recycled, as are 31percent of all paper goods and 45 percent of all aluminum cans.

* On average, each man, woman and child in the United States generates 4.6 pounds of solid waste every day.

* The United States has a national goal to reduce greenhouse gases by 18 percent before 2012. If Americans reach that goal, it will mean 500 million metric tons of emissions have been eliminated from the atmosphere.

* The United States currently has approximately 736 million acres of forest land. Only 250 million of those acres are owned by the federal government. The rest is owned by state and local governments, corporations and private citizens.

Working TogetherThe Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with protecting the air quality, water quality, food supply, climate fluctuations and wildlife for more than 300 million Americans. It accomplishes this monumental task for approximately $28.71 per person annually. For less than the cost of dinner and a movie for a family of four, the federal government is protecting your health and safety, now and for future generations. What have you done for the planet lately?

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